Kashgar Tribal Artifacts - Life for the Modern Nomad | Handmade Jewellery, ethnic handicrafts, antique furniture

While many people know of the red coral used in jewellery making, they would be surprised to learn that the term actually applies to at least 100,000 known species found throughout the world's seas, from the polar regions to equatorial reefs and at all depths from the intertidal zone to the bottoms of the deepest oceanic trenches - and scientists estimate that there may be another 900,000 species awaiting discovery...

Pictured is a beautiful coral and silver bracelet from Mexico.  The size of the coral pieces, dark areas and concentric growth rings clearly identify it as a species of bamboo coral, which has been dyed a deep red colour.